With Christmas in the air and the new year just around the corner, the Chosun Ilbo has compiled a list of the best places to kick off 2012 by catching the first sunrise of the year...More

Starring Joo Jin-mo and Park Ji-yoon's epic drama "Bichunmoo - Drama" is finally going to be on-air in Korea. It took 2 years 7 months for this decision to be made. SBS is televising a new Friday drama "Bichunmoo - Drama" (script by Kang Eun-kyeong, directed by Yoon Sang-ho) from 1st of February as a follow up of "30K Miles In Search For My Son".

Based on the original manhwa "Bichunmoo" created by Kim Hye-lin, this epic melodrama is a tragic love story between a Koryu soldier, Ji...More

"Gung (Princess Hours)" was a major hit television drama last year, propelling Yoon Eun-hye and Ju Ji-hoon into stardom. This time, it is K-pop star Se7en's turn to cash in on the popularity of the romantic comedy period drama, but early signs are ominous - at least for now.

Last Thursday, "Gung S" ("Prince Hours") featuring Se7en recorded an 11.7 percent viewer rating, according to TNS Media. The figure means the ambitious television drama of MBC is stuck with the lowest ranking while its competitors from rival stations sprinted ahead.

"Gung S" posted a 15.3 percent rating on its debut on Jan. 10, thanks largely to the attention of viewers who remember the innovativ...More

"CSI", "24" and "Lost" -- if a show's a hit in the U.S., it will likely be a hit in Korea, too. Korean dramas are trying to make the formula work in reverse but still are unable to replicate Hollywood's success -- for now.

Major hits in the U.S. cost studios about 3-4 billion won per episode. In Korea, that amount is more in line with movie production and is astronomical for TV.

Hallyu, or Korean Wave, once produced hits like "Winter Sonata" but is being shaken to its roots. Both at home and abroad, viewers want more than a celebrity face and the typical Cinderella plot lines.

Against this backdrop a new trend is rising. Big domestic companies like CJ Entertainment are showing interest in K-drama projects intended for worldwide release.

Big corporations out to make big K-drama hits

CJ Entertainment, Korea's biggest producer, investor and distributor of movies has officially embarked on its first joint production of a home drama, "When It's Spring Again", which will begin airing on Monday, January 15.

This isn't the first time CJ Entertainment has shown interest in dramas. The company has been a major backer for drama producer Eight Peaks Co. Ltd. and has been directly investing in other d...More

On 24 November 2006, Eight Peaks (production company of Princess Hours), confirms that the true sequel of Princess Hours season 1 will probably happen in the future! According to Eight Peaks, the original Manwha is still on-going. In fact, they just published the 14th volume (rumor said that the author wanted to end it in volume 12 or something). The production company wants to film the sequel, not the spin-off like the Princess Hours S. In fact, they have already begin the preparations necessary for the sequel since t...More

The new drama by Director Hwang In-roi, "The Palace II" ("Princess Hours 2")got itself a new name: "The Palace S" ("Prince Hours").

"To put the copyrights issue out of our way, we need a new title for our drama, which will also have a new cast and a new story", said GROUP 8, the producer of "The Palace S" ("Prince Hours"), whose separation from Eight Peaks generated a copyrights issue because of the similarity of its new drama's title and cast to those of the original. To resolve the i...More

The "Fifth BCWW (Broadcast Worldwide) 2005", the largest broadcasting content show in the country, was held at the Convention & Exhibition Center (COEX) in Samseong-dong, Seoul for four days from Nov. 16 to 19.

The show was organized by Arirang, the international television broadcasting station under the Korea International Broadcasting Foundation. According to Arirang on Nov. 21, domestic enterprises sold US$15 million worth of broadcasting programs during this year's BCWW.

Major broadcasters and...More

CEO and producer of SM Entertainment Lee Soo-man reported that singer Boa will debut as an actress during a recent interview he gave at SM's main office in Cheongdam-dong, Seoul.

"Acting will not be Boa's main job; she will juggle acting with singing. After long deliberation on how to promote a friendly image of Boa in the Asian market following her success in Japan, we decided that acting was the surest way for her to get closer to her audiences", said Lee.

...More

The Korea Broadcasting Commission said on May 27 that it had launched the "TV Korea Showcase 2005" in Jakarta, Indonesia to promote the "hallyu" boom in Southeast Asia. The purpose of the showcase, which will last through June 2, is to introduce Korean broadcasting programs to Indonesia, Thailand and India, and establish marketing channels in that region.

The commission said the showcase was attended by high-profile Indonesian television producers and distributors, including the head of the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission, Mr. Menayang. To bolster the popularity of Korean stars in Indonesia, actor Kim Jae-won held a fan meeting at the showcas...More